South Africa’s initial results reveal the African National Congress (ANC) leading in what is termed as the nation’s most fierce elections.
From approximately 19% of voting districts tallied thus far, the ANC maintains a commanding lead at 43%, trailed by the DA at 25%. Meanwhile, the EFF secures approximately 9%, with the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party), associated with former President Jacob Zuma, securing around 8% of the votes.
Anticipated weekend announcements will unveil the final verdict.
Initial indications forewarn a seismic shift as the ANC faces the prospect of losing its parliamentary dominance for the first time since Nelson Mandela’s historic victory in 1994.
According to projections from South Africa’s News24 website, the ANC’s final vote tally may plummet to around 42%, a stark decline from its 2019 election triumph of 57%. Notably, early outcomes reveal significant setbacks for the ANC, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal, where the party is losing ground to the MK Party, notably impacting its nationwide vote count. KwaZulu-Natal, the stronghold of Mr. Zuma, stands as the second-largest voting province.
In a December announcement that reverberated through political circles, Mr. Zuma’s decision to break ties with the ANC and throw his support behind the MK Party sent shockwaves across the nation.
Despite being ineligible to run for parliamentary office due to a contempt of court conviction, his presence loomed large on the ballot as the leader of MK. Wednesday’s elections witnessed a surge of voters queuing up late into the night at polling stations nationwide.
Central to voters’ concerns were entrenched government corruption, soaring unemployment rates, and unchecked crime levels.
The Democratic Alliance (DA), spearheading a coalition pact with 10 other parties, aims to clinch a coalition government should they amass sufficient votes to challenge the ANC’s dominance.
However, the odds are stacked against this scenario, with projections favoring the ANC to retain its lead, potentially positioning it to spearhead a coalition if its support falls below the 50% mark.
In South Africa’s electoral system, citizens cast votes for parliamentary representatives who subsequently elect the president, indicating that President Cyril Ramaphosa is poised to maintain his incumbency.
With over 27 million registered voters, including a significant proportion of the young electorate, their collective sway could be pivotal in shaping the outcome.
